Electric-circuit-controlling device.



A. C. WYMAN.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, I915- 1,199,852. Patented Oct. 3,1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

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A. C. WYMAN.

ELECTRIC CIRCUIT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. ll. I915.

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

QED

ARTHUR C. VVYMAN, OF NEWTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTBIC-CIRCUIT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application filed February 11, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, A'rrrnn C. WVYMAN, of Newton, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, a citizen of the United States, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Electric-Circuit-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming-a part of this specification in explaining. its nature.

The present invention relates to an electric circuit controlling device capable of being operated by the energy developed in solids by jars, shocks or like phenomena, vibrational or otherwise, and imparted to the solid from a distance, as for example, the jar occasioned by the movement of a heavy body as a train.

Inasmuch as the present device might be used in the accomplishment of a variety of kinds ofwork, it accordingly is not my object to limit it to any one kind, although I especially desire to provide whereby an electric' sign might become illuminated by the jar of a train running at a distance, the illumination to continue only for a determinate length of time.

My invention can best be seen and understood from a description of an embodiment thereof or apparatus shown in the drawings and in which-' Figure 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan.

Referring to the drawings: 1 represents a fixed part or base of metal or other solid body freely responsive to any mechanical vibratory influence as that transmitted to it through the earth or other solid medium by jar or tremor or like phenomena.

2 is a swinging part or lever loosely supported and occupying such relation to the base that vibration of the base may operate to change the position of the lever and thereby control an electric circuit.

According to the construction shown, the lever 2'is loosely mounted upon a stud or post 3. This post is fixed to the base 1 and is preferably a metal post. The top of the post is provided with a slot 4: with offsets 5 from it oppositely disposed. The lever 2, horizontally arranged, extends through the slot 4L and is provided with trunnions 6 at either side which enter the offsets 5 and bear upon the sleeves forming the bottoms of the Specification of Letters Patent,

Patented Oct. 3, 1916.

Serial No. 7,506.

offsets, thereby supporting the lever to swing freely. To reduce friction the bottom bearmg edges 7 of each of the trunnions is made a knife edge. Thus arranged, the lever 2 presents arms 9 and 10 extending, respectively, fore and aft from the post 8 0r fulcrum of support. Of these arms the arm 9 is a short arm, the arm 10 much longer. A ratio of 5 to 1 I have found in practice to be a good working one. o

The lever 2 is a balanced lever or one maintained substantially so. For balancing the lever, or, in other words, for maintaining it in proper relation to other parts, as will laterbe explained, the arm 9 of the lever has arranged upon it a set of slidable weights 11 which may be fixed in any proper ad usted position, each by a'binding screw 12. Fastened to the end of the arm 10 to project from it is a screw 18 having on it one or more nuts 14. By these means the lever may be set in a balanced or substantially balanced position with great refinement. In practice the setting of the lever is obtained first by moving the weights 11 on the shorter arm of the lever and completing the operation with the adjustment of the nuts 14 at the end of its longer arm.

vlbrational impulses set up in the base are transmitted to the lever for changing its position by a post or stud 16 fixed to the base and for present purposes to be considered a part of it as the post is of metal or other substance susceptible to the vibrations set up in the base. this post to extend from its top end is a screw 17. This screw forms practically an adjustable part of the post by which the length thereof may be extended or retracted and this simply by turning the screw up or down. The extension of the screw by adjustment is just such that the head of the screw will contact with the outer end of the short arm 9 of the lever when the lever is occupying a balanced position, or one slightly overbalanced to rest upon the screw. In practice for setting the lover I prefer to slightly overbalance it to rest upon the screw and then raise the screw until the lever is brought to the position it would normally occupy when balanced. In order that the screw may be securely fixed to the post to become substantially an integral part of it and susceptible to the vibrations set up in the base, the screw after adjustment is Threaded within preferably fixed to the post by a locking nut arranged upon the screw and engaging the head of the post,

In the operation of the parts thus far described the vibration of the base, as by a jar or otherwise is transmitted through the post 16 and screw 17 to the end of the short arm of the lever, imparting a slight movement to it which becomes multiplied and of more appreciable extent of movement at the end of the long arm of the lever, and this displacement or change of position I have found is sufficient to enable the lever to control a light electric current as that generated by a battery of one or more dry cells 22. This light current will hereinafter be referred to as the primary current or circuit as it assists only in the control of a secondary current or circuit of greater strength or one capable of accomplishing the work de sired to be attained.

The adaptability of the lever for controlling a primary electric circuit is availed of by making the lever a part of the circuit, connection being made between it and the battery by a wire 23 which connects with the metal stud or post 3 on which the lever is mounted. Comprising also a part of the.

primary circuit is a contact consisting of a screw 25 threaded into the head of a metal post 26 fixed to the base 1, The screw 25 is so set that its head will lie just out of contact with the end of the arm 10 of the lever when occupying its balanced or substantially balanced position as aforesaid. By adjustment the contact or screw 25 is set so near the end of the lever arm that the arm will contact with it closing the primary circuit when the lever is oscillated or moved by the vibration of the base. The adjustment of the screw is secured simply by turning it up or down in the post 26 and when positioned is held by a locking nut 27 arranged upon the shank of the screw and engaging the head of the post.

From the screw 25 the primary circuit continues through the post 26 and thence through a screw 28 which fastens the post to the base. This screw with the bottom of the post is insulated from the base by an insulating sleeve 29. From the screw 28 the circuit continues through a wire 30 and other closed connections as Will later be explained and is thence returned to the battery through a wire 31.

The control of the primary circuit by the lever is a somewhat vacillating one owing to the possibility of the lever'oscillating and thus making and breaking the primary circuit. I have provided, however, that the mere momentary closure of the primary circuit by the lever suflices to set in operation certain mechanism which in turn effectually controls the secondary circuit.

In so far as the purposes of my invention are concerned the secondary circuit may be used for the purpose of doing any desired work, ever, I have shown it applied to the lighting of an electric lamp 32; 33 and 34 representing, respectively, the leading-in and out wires.

Arranged within the secondary circuit are spaced binding posts 35 and 36, respectively, breaking the circuit of the leading-in wire 33. These posts are carried by an insulated block 37 through which they extend. The block 37 is fixed to a suitable supporting base plate 38. The space between the posts is bridged by a switch bar 40 which is socured to the end of the post 35 and extends to have contact with the end of the post 36 for closing the secondary circuit. The switch bar is made of spring metal and is supported to assume normally an open position as shown, breaking the secondary circuit.

The position of the switch bar is controlled for making and breaking the secondary circuit in the following manner: Fixed to the end of the post outside the switch bar is a spring arm 41. This arm has in it a hump 42 and is positioned to normally occupy a position out of engagement with the switch. Arranged back of the arm 41 is a rotary disk 44 made of insulating material and presenting a peripheral edge 45 a portion of which is removed by a slot 46 cut in the disk. The disk 44 is mounted upon a shaft 48 which is turned by a clockwork or other suitable device (not shown) for rotating the disk. The relation of the disk to the spring arm 41 is such that during the rotation of the disk the peripheral edge 45 thereof will bear against the hump 42 in the arm and hold the arm in engagement with the switch closing it and thereby closing the secondary circuit. \Vhen, however, the disk is turned to a position where the slot in it is adjacent the hump in the spring arm the hump will enter the slot, thereby allowing the arm to assume its normal disengaging position and the switch to return to an open position, thereby breaking the secondary circuit. I have arranged whereby upon the closing of the primary circuit the disk may be permitted to rotate a single revolution and during which time accordingly the secondary circuit will be closed by the switch through the bearing of the peripheral edge of the disk as aforesaid. Arranged upon the shaft 48 is a sleeve 49 having an incision 50 cut to extend longitudinally in the outer edge thereof and presenting a shoulder 51. Having engagement with this shoulder for preventing rotation of the shaft and disk by the operating mechanism as aforesaid is a releasable stop 52. This stop comprises an arm yieldingly maintained to have a nor- For purposes of illustration, how-' .der thereon for stopping the rotation of the disk. The stop or arm forms, however, the armature for an electro-magnet 53. This magnet is contained within the primary circuit and is energized for attracting the armature and thereby releasing the stop when the primary circuit is closed even though that closure be but a momentary one. In further detail of construction it will be observed that the stop arm is supported by pivoting it to a shoulder 54 fixed to a plate mounted upon an insulated block 56 on the base plate 38. The yielding retention of the arm is obtained by a spring 57 which is fixed to the arm and is provided with a bent end 58 which engages the holder. The electro-magnet 52 is fixed to the plate 55 by a supporting flange 60. The primary circuit is completed through the magnet by connecting the wire 30 thereof with a post 61 fastened to the plate 55, the circuit being thence continued through the plate and connection 62 through the magnet, thence through a connection 64 to a binding post 65 mounted upon the plate 55 but insulated from it and thence to the battery 22 through the return wire 31 as aforesaid.

The operation is as follows: It will first 1 be assumed that no vibratory impulse has been imparted to the base for operating the lever 2 and closing the primary circuit. The stop arm 52 will then be in engagement with the shoulder 51 of the sleeve preventing any rotation of the disk 44. The disk will also have been stopped by the arm in a position where the hump 42 on the spring arm 41 will be contained within the slot 46 in the disk, permitting the arm and switch controlled by it to assume their normal disengaging positions with the secondary circuit open, all substantially as shown in the drawings. Upon the vibration of the base the lever 2 will be moved into contact with the screw 25 of the primary circuit, closing this circuit and energizing the electro-magnet 53. Thereupon the stop arm or armature 52 will be attracted and moved into a disengaging position with relation to the shoulder of the sleeve, permitting rotation of the disk when the secondary circuit will become closed by the switch through the bearing of the peripheral edge of the disk against the spring arm 41 as aforesaid. The secondary circuit will remain closed during the rotation of the disk or until the hump upon the spring arm 41 again reaches the slot 46 in the disk at which time the stop arm, yieldingly maintained as aforesaid, will engage the shoulder on the sleeve preventing further rotation of the disk until the primary circuit is again closed by the lever 2 when the operation is repeated. Of course the length of time that the secondary will remain closed will depend upon the speed of rotation of the disk and upon its relative size. Thesecondary will, however, remain closed for a determinate length of time even though the lever 2 has effected only a momentary closure of the primary circuit through vibration of the base.

It is of course apparent that various modifications in the mechanisms may be effected in carrying out my invention without de parting from the essential principles involved, as referred to in the claims.

By the term vibration used herein and in the claims in connection with the fixed or stationary part I would include any infiuence strictly vibrational or otherwise which may tend to move or effect a change in the stationary part whereby it may operate the swinging member and especially those vibrations in the nature of jars or tremors tending to shake the stationary part.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States 1. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a swinging member for controlling an electric circuit, means for loosely supporting said swinging member to have normal contact with said stationary part at a point other than the point of support of said swinging member, and a member forming part of the electric circuit controlled by said swinging member and arranged normally out of contact with said swinging member, but touched thereby when the swinging member is moved by the vibration of said stationary part.

2. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a lever movable to control an electric circuit, means for loosely supporting said lever to have normal contact with said stationary part at a point other than the point of sup port of said lever whereby the vibration of said stationary part may be impar ed to said lever to move the same and the motion thereof be multiplied through said lever for controlling said circuit.

3. In a device of the cha 'acter specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, .a swinging member movable to control an electric circuit of which said swinging member forms a part, means for loosely supporting said swinging member to have normal contact with said stationary part at a point other than the point of support of said swinging member, and a member forming also a part of said electric circuit and arranged normally out of contact with said swinging member, but touched thereby when said swinging member is moved by the vi bration of said stationary part.

4. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a lever having relatively long and short arms for controlling an electric circuit, means for pivotally supporting said lever whereby the short arm thereof will occupy such relation to the stationary part that upon the vibration thereof the movement of said part may be imparted to the short arm of said lever moving the same and the motion thereof multiplied through the long arm of said lever for controlling said circuit.

5. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a lever having relatively long and short arms for controlling an electric circuit, means for pivotally supporting said lever in a position of substantial balance with the short arm thereof in contact with said stationary part whereby upon the vibration of said part the motion thereof may be imparted to the short arm of the lever moving the same and the movement be multiplied through the long arm of said lever for controlling the electric circuit.

6. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a swinging member movable to control an electric circuit of which said member forms a part, means for loosely supporting said swinging member in a position of substantial equilibrium but contacting with said stationary part whereby the vibration of said part may impart movement to said swinging member for controlling said circuit.

7. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a lever having relatively long and short arms and which lever is movable to control an electric circuit of which said lever forms a part, means for pivotally supporting said lever in a position of substantial balance and in such relation to said stationary part that upon the vibration thereof motion may be imparted to the short arm of said lever and multiplied through the long arm thereof for controlling said circuit.

8. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, a lever with relatively long and short arms and a contact with which the long arm of said lever is adapted to have engagement, means for pivotally supporting said lever in a substantially balanced position with the short arm thereof occupying such relation to said stationary part and the long arm thereof to said contact that vibration imparted to said stationary part may operate therethrough to move the short arm of said lever and the motion thereof be multiplied through the long arm thereof moving the same with relation to said contact for controlling air electric circuit of which said lever forms a part.

9. In a device of the character specified, a stationary part responsive to vibrations, an electric circuit comprising in part a lever with relatively long and short arms and a contact with which the long arm' of said lever is adapted to have engagement, means for pivotally supporting said lever in a position of substantial balance with the short arm thereof in contact with said stationary part and the long arm thereof just out of engagement with said contact for breaking the electric circuit whereby motion imparted to the short arm of said lever through the vibration of said stationary part may be multiplied through said lever and the long arm thereof move into engagement with said contact closing said circuit.

ARTHUR C. WYMAN. \Vitnesses JOHN E. R. HAYES, M. E. FLAHERTY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patente, Wnhington, D. G." 

